I know my opponent's rating, but
it's just a number, not my sentence. For me, chess is a fight, sixty
four squares where you lay out everything you have, and I believe in my
ability to fight, because it's really just a function of your ability to
give everything you have, to put it banally, 'to do your best.'

I want
to make the maximum effort, whether that means pushing myself to find
the best moves, being resilient in defense, or overcoming any
psychological weakness that can come up during a game: inclinations
towards cowardice, towards giving up in difficult positions, or slacking
off in better ones. So while I just can't see myself to be very good in
the actual playing of chess, I do come into every game with the belief
that I can give it 100%, and that's probably not a lot less than what my
opponents can bring.

Irina Krush is a five-time US Women's Champion, and the reigning Women's champ. She has also represented the US in numerous World Team Championships and Olympiads. In the World Team Championship in Astana, March 2013, she posted a 7/9 result on board one, achieving a gold medal, her second norm and a 2600+ performance rating. A contributor to CLO and Chess Life Magazine, Irina is currently hosting live commentary at the Gibraltar Chess Festival (January 27-February 6) with GM Simon Williams, and will blog for CLO from that event.

I always like articles about norms and games of the author. I also liked the local color that Irina always gives in her articles. Congrats to Irina on earning the title, and I hope she writes many more articles on her chess endeavors.- GM Ben Finegold

“Irina Krush tells a wonderful story. First she talks about her journey to Baku and provides great pictures of her travels. Next she discusses each of her chess matches in the tournament with in depth analysis of her chess games and also her psychology. Irina Krush's perspective is an essential element of her writing style that reveals her personality. She highlights the specific context and purpose of her trip to Baku as well as illustrates her experiences with storytelling, pictures, and chess games. Irina Krush's personalized writing style is what sets her writing apart and makes it unique. Well written and great content!”—Galen Pyle

The reader follows in the author's footsteps as she experiences the ups and downs of a competitive tournament in a foreign environment. Instructively, not everything goes according to plan. Aspiring players of both genders can learn from the approach taken by the US Women's Champion. She derives confidence from exerting "maximum effort" in each round and tries to grind out positions even when her brain acquiesces to a draw.

The reader can play through eight games, each with light comments. The photos of Baku, including the stray cats, complement the storyline. Will any American chess master undertake a similar adventure in 2014? --Michael Aigner

In my opinion, this article is inspirational because it showed to me that dreams can come true. I believe that harmony is the key to success and this article represents it.

Therefore, external factors like friends and tourism combined with Irina's 100 percent effort in every game lead to her epic chess performance. The path was not easy, but she did not give up and achieve her GM norm in her last game.- Carla Heredia

Great tournament report, great photos, very well written. Nice mix of games, stories, insights, and a peek into the life of a top player. Fun and instructional, inspirational, and with a well-deserved happy ending!-Tim Brennan